Fascism, Nazism, and the Post-War World Order
Fascism in Italy
The rise of Fascism in Italy was largely due to dissatisfaction with the peace agreements established after World War I, compounded by an economic crisis. Fascism was the creation of journalist Benito Mussolini, who founded the National Fascist Party in 1921, using paramilitary groups known as Italian Combat, or Blackshirts. He gained support from large landowners, the Church, and King Victor.
In 1922, the successful intervention of the Italian Combat against trade unions and workers’ strikes allowed Mussolini to claim power. To pressure the government, he organised a march on Rome with the Blackshirts.
Once in power, Mussolini established a Fascist dictatorship. He took complete control over the country, restricted freedoms, prohibited political parties, repressed trade unions and any other opposition using secret police (OVRA), directed the economy, and controlled every aspect of social life through propaganda and censorship.
Nazism in Germany
The causes that led to Nazism in Germany can be traced to discontent during the Weimar Republic (1918-1933) with the humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles, as well as the post-war situation: economic crisis, unemployment, and social unrest expressed through revolutionary movements. Nazism arose around the ex-soldier Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, founded in 1920, and had a paramilitary group. Hitler won the support of a large part of the middle class.
In the elections of 1932, the Nazi Party received many votes, and Hitler was named Chancellor of Germany.
Once in power, he ended the Weimar Republic and founded the Third Reich, through which he established a fierce dictatorship, dissolved the other parties, prohibited trade unions, and eliminated fundamental freedoms and rights. He also took control of the economy, directed education, culture, etc. All of these actions would eventually lead to World War II.
Wartime Conferences and the UN’s Genesis
Before World War II ended in 1945, the Allies held a series of conferences to decide how to address the post-war situation of Germany and Eastern Europe.
- In the Tehran Conference (November 1943), it was agreed that the USSR would annex the Baltic States and eastern Poland.
- In the Yalta Conference (February 1945)
- At the Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945), the Heads of Government agreed that all German annexations in Europe would be reverted. Germany would be demilitarised and divided as established at Yalta, war reparations would be paid, and Nazi war criminals would be punished. The trials for war crimes committed by the Nazis were held in the German city of Nuremberg.
Post-War Peace Treaties and the UN’s Creation
After the war, in 1946, numerous peace treaties were signed, and Europe’s borders were redrawn. The USSR expanded its territory in the Baltic region and along Poland, which was compensated at the expense of Germany. Germany and Berlin were divided. Italy was occupied by an American army and lost its colonies. Japan was occupied by the United States, lost its colonies, and returned to China. Eastern Europe was occupied by Russian soldiers.
The Allies also decided to create the United Nations (UN), a new international organisation that replaced the inefficient League of Nations. Its headquarters was set up in New York, and it established a General Assembly, made up of permanent members. Its objectives were to maintain world peace and security through peaceful solutions to conflicts, international cooperation, and respect for human rights.